Patna: Minister of Education, Bihar, Shri Sunil Kumar in presence of other dignitaries on Monday laid the foundation stone and performed the bhoomi pujan for Bihar’s first centralised kitchen of the Akshaya Patra Foundation in Patna district on 16 June 2025.

The state-of-the-art facility will serve nutritious midd-ay meals to government schoolchildren across the district. Operated under the PM POSHAN scheme, the kitchen is expected to be fully functional by a year.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Bharatarshabha Dasa, National President and Trustee of The Akshaya Patra Foundation described the initiative as a milestone for Bihar’s education sector, particularly for Patna. He highlighted the importance of nutritious and hygienic meals in boosting student health, attendance, and classroom performance. Once operational, the facility will ensure timely and efficient delivery of mi-day meals, enabling teachers to focus exclusively on teaching rather than logistical concerns surrounding food distribution.

Reflecting on the project’s genesis, Shri Sunil Kumar recalled initiating discussions with The Akshaya Patra Foundation after learning about its highly successful operations in other states. Impressed by its model during visits to southern India, he extended an invitation to the Foundation to bring their expertise to Bihar. This kitchen in Patna marks the first such collaboration in the state.

He praised the Akshaya Patra Foundation’s humanitarian commitment, noting that the organisation not only utilizes government grants effectively but also supplements funding from its own resources to ensure that the meals are both nutritious and appealing to children.